Going to the local gas station to fill up back in mid 2008 was a stressful experience. Back then, global crude oil price reached its highest level at $150 per barrel. That in effect has caused a lot of problems for car owners. The suddenly rise of energy expensive bill caught a lot of people by surprise and many just could not cope. Some had no other choice and sold off their vehicle and use the public transportation. Others were frantically looking for an alternative power source for their cars. The solution came in the form of electricity. Electric car was deemed as a cheaper mode to commute. Unfortunately, a brand new electric car off the lot is still relatively expensive. Those that could not afford converted their existing gas driven car to run on electric power via a Do It Yourself (DIY) approach. How practical is a homemade electric vehicle (EV) from home. This article will provide some information on the subject.
The concept of a DIY electric car is to remove the internal combustion engine and use a DC electric motor to generate power. The motor is connected directly to the existing transmission. Since the engine is gone, all its connecting components such as gas tank, fuel lines and exhaust pipe are removed as well. To power the motor, a series of deep cycle acid flooded batteries are used.
To retrofit an EV on your own can be complicated if you do not have the skill or know how. A lot of the work will involve electrical wiring and machine tooling. If you are not familiar with the inner workings of an automobile, it is recommended for you to hire and professional mechanic to help you with the conversion. This approach will involve some monetary investment but you will save a lot of time and unnecessary headache.